Typhoon Yolanda makes 5th landfall in Panay Island, Bicol provinces still affected. The howler slightly accelerated and made its fifth landfall in Concepcion, Iloilo on Friday noon, the state weather bureau said.

In a press briefing in PAGASA, Weather Forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said the first landfall was around 4:40 a.m. over Guiuan, Eastern Samar, the second around 7 a.m. at Dulag-Tolosa Leyte, the third landfall in Daanbantayan, Cebu; and the fourth landfall at Bantayan Island, Cebu around 10:40 a.m.

So far, Yolanda is the strongest typhoon to enter the country this year together with Typhoon Odette last September which has maximum winds of 215 kph, Aurelio said.

He said super typhoon Yolanda transverse the provinces of Visayas as it maintains its strength with maximum sustained winds of 235 kph near the center and gustiness of up to 275 kph and continues to move west northwest at 40 kph.

Aurelio said that if Yolanda maintains its strength, movement and speed, it will pass the southern part of Mindoro and Busuanga, Palawan before exiting the Philippine landmass Friday evening towards the West Philippine Sea.

He added Yolanda is expected to be out of the Philippine Area of Responsibility around 1:00 p.m. or 2:00 p.m. Saturday.

Areas that were placed under public storm warning signal number 4 were the following: southern part of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro; Romblon; Calamian Group of Islands; Masbate; Northern Cebu; Cebu City; Bantayan Island; Northern Negros Occidental; Aklan; Capiz; Antique; Iloilo; and Guimaras.

He said that Signal Number 4 is the highest alert level for typhoons inside the Philippine territory.

He noted that areas placed under Signal Number 4 will experience “very strong winds” for at least 12 hours that could uproot many large trees and electrical posts and may even damage residential and institutional buildings.

He advised residents in areas under Signal Number 4 to immediately evacuate to safer shelters “before its too late”.

Aurelio said that the Typhoon Yolanda will bring rainfall amount of 10- to 20-mm per hour (Heavy – Intense) within the 400 km diameter out of the 600-km diameter of the super typhoon.

He added that the sea travel is risky over the seaboards of Northern Luzon and over the eastern seaboard of Central Luzon.

He also alerted residents in low-lying and mountainous areas under Signals #4, #3 and #2 against possible flashfloods and landslides. Likewise, those living in coastal areas under these storm warning signals are alerted against storm surges which of up to 7-meter waves.

Aurelio said storm surges is possible in the coasts of Panay provinces, Negros provinces, Palawan and Mindoro.(PNA)